The Open Mind

In the beginner's mind, all possibilities are open.
This site is dedicated to those possibilities.
“I have always kept an open mind, which is necessary to the flexibility that must go hand in hand with every form of intelligent search for truth.” MALCOLM X

Thursday, July 14, 2005

The Halliburton scandal, nearly eclipsed by first Rove and now the London bombings, is still being pursued by 28 Democratic Senators.

Halliburton has now billed the government for over $10 billion in services to the Iraq occupation, and something like $1.5 billion of that is contested by the Pentagon. We must hold them accountable, not only for the money but for the cost in lives and danger to our soldiers that their greed has created.

Monday, July 04, 2005

In this Declaration of Impeachment, from Veterans For Peace, only the names have been changed.... Otherwise, it's just like Jefferson wrote it. The implications should be clear.

Declaration of Impeachment

Issued by Veterans For Peace, July 4th, 2005

Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are instituted to secure the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But

“…whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

…all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations…design(s) to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

…The history of the present King (George) of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny…To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. § He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance. § He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. § He has…deprive(ed) us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury…transport(ed) us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences § He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us… § He is at this time transporting large Armies…to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. § He has constrained our fellow Citizens…to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

A (President) whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. We, therefore…do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People…solemnly publish and declare, That these…Free and Independent (People)…are Absolved from all Allegiance to the (Bush Administration), and that all political connection between them and (this Administration), is and ought to be totally dissolved…And for the support of this Declaration…we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

(Note: Except for the first two lines above and words in parentheses, this Declaration is quoted directly from the original Declaration of Independence.) www.veteransforpeace.org

This comes with a call to support everyone and everything that is working to bring the troops home, send George home, and bring America home. Everything else may just need to be put on hold 'til we get those things done.

About Me

This site is about cultivating the open mind that may see the truth. The I behind it is but a fleshly character replacement algorithm...
And yet, I am Buddha.
All is one, and impermanent, yet I am here and separate. I cultivate the way-seeking mind, yet I know that leaving the way I find its end. I live with a wife and a daughter, have a son in college and a son working, and I struggle to teach what I can of life's relatives and absolutes to those I meet with every day. I weep at the unnecessary suffering we cause in the world every day, yet I accept the suffering that is this life with gratitude and love. I see that all is well and will be well, yet I would do that which I see in front of me that needs to be done for the suffering of the world. I would open eyes. Look!